United Way chief takes Carle Foundation post

URBANA — Lyn Jones, president and CEO of the United Way of Champaign County for five years, has resigned to take a new position as vice president of fund development for the Carle Development Foundation.

She will leave her job sometime in August, and a search committee is being formed to find her replacement, she said.

The development foundation is the fund-raising arm of Carle.

Jones said Carle has been a strong supporter of human services in the community and a prime United Way partner, and she's gotten to know the staff at Carle on a number of projects.

"They have some exciting plans for the future, and it was a great opportunity to be part of that," she said.

Jones took over leadership of the United Way May 1, 2007, and said she's grateful for her five years with the organization.

"This has been really a wonderful experience and quite honestly, I think seeing the good work of all the agencies and health care swayed me that a new challenge would be in order," she said. "But really this has been a great opportunity. We have an amazing board. We have the most loyal and dedicated staff here at the United Way, so it's a bittersweet move."

Carle Foundation President and CEO Dr. James Leonard said Jones has achieved record fund-raising for the United Way and has been instrumental in creating and leading community-wide coalitions.

"Under Lyn's leadership, United Way has taken on critical issues facing this community. The expertise she brings will help us strengthen Carle to further enhance the health care we provide throughout the region," Leonard said in a written statement. "As a charitable organization, we know firsthand that the community's needs are great, and that's why we'll continue to be supportive of United Way."